Basic Rocky Mountain Fly Patterns

INTRODUCTION: The following slides is a compilation of Basic Flies used throughout the Rocky Mountain Rivers, Ponds and Lakes created by some very talented fly fishermen, both past and present. This is not all inclusive as that would include 100’s upon 100’s of flies to present. It’s best to consult your local fly shop for what works best and at what time of the year. Hatch Charts are available on-line that will give you a 90% solution to the pattern, size, color, variation, and hatch dates of the fly you need to have for a particular river or lake. They can easily be printed and taken with you and are put together by pretty knowledgeable anglers. Fly-fishing websites offer updated fishing reports from Guides on what's hatching and in what pattern, size and color to assist you in making your outing successful. Books, I have found, can offer in-depth information about insects and the flies that are used to imitate them, written by the experts. I’ve tried to include as many recommendations from all of these sources in this presentation. One last thing, to understand the fly you should have a general knowledge about Entomology and the particular insect you are imitating and it’s life-cycle. This is included in this presentation and well worth understanding.Remember, this is a guide and will not include everyone’s favorite pattern. Basic fly patterns can be varied using different materials. Some flies can serve more than one purpose as we’ll discuss. This is an interactive presentation, so please ask questions.

Mayfly Life Cycle1. Egg matures to nymph.2. Nymph lives on bottom growing in stages till it matures, called instars*.3. Mature nymph (emerger) swims to surface (swimmers) . Note: Some Mayflies crawl out of the water to stones, brush, etc. on the

banks of the stream (crawlers). 4. On surface sheds husk to become a dun and floats till wings are dry enough to take flight. Scientifically referred to as Subimago

stage 5. Dun flies to trees, and bushes along stream where it sheds it’s skin becoming an adult (spinner). Imago stage6. Spinner leaves shore to begin mating ritual.7. Female spinner dips her eggs on the water surface where they fall to the bottom.8. Both male and female spinners fall to surface and die.

*As invertebrates grow they shed their exoskeleton numerous times and these periods of growth are called instars

Mayflies demonstrate an incomplete lifecycle, because they don’t undergo metamorphosis

Common Western Mayflies SpeciesThere are over 700 species of Mayflies in the United States, dozens of which exist here in the Rocky Mountains. Here are a few common species you’ll hear about or see on most Western Hatch Charts.

• Blue Winged Olive & Tiny BWO (Baetis) • Brown-Olive, Mahogany & Margarita Dun• Pale Morning Dun (PMD) • Tricos (Tricorythodes) • Western Green, Gray & Brown Drake • Callibaetis Americanus • Flavs (Small Western Green Drake)• Pink Lady (Epeorus)• Western Quill• Western March Brown

BWO

Green Drake

BWO

Basic Mayfly Patterns

DRIES: BWO’s, Adams, PMD’s, Light Cahills, Trico’s, Blue Duns, Gray & Green Paradrakes, Gulper Special Varieties: Comparadun, Parachute, Sparkle, Cripple, Spinner, TraditionalColors: Dun, Dark/Light Olive, Green, Cream, Brown, Tan, Rust, Sulphur, Light Pink, Black

Comparadun Parachute Sparkle Cripple Spinner Traditional Paradrake

EMERGERS: Pheasant Tail, Hares Ear, Barr’s Emerger, Copper John, Prince Nymph, RS2, WD40, Rainbow Warrior, Colors: Dun, Dark/Light Olive, Cream, Brown, Tan, Black, Peacock

Note: Most dry flies can be tied in a variety of different materials and in most cases CDC can be used in-lie-of hackle. Most pictures of nymphs are shown with bead heads, which is optional on some nymphs. Colors come in a variety of combinations, e.g. olive-brown, olive-dun, yellow-brown, rusty-brown.

Caddis Life Cycle1. Egg matures into a larva.2. Larva lives on bottom growing in stages called instars (typically 5) until it matures: A. Free living caddis, B. Caddis larva with a

portable case, C. Free living caddis in it’s retreat near it’s catch net.3. Larva then either seals it’s case, or retreat, or builds a case where it pupates (undergoes metamorphosis).4. Mature pupa cuts itself free from case and swims or craws to the surface, where it sheds it’s pupa membrane and emerges as an

adult.5. Adult caddis flies into trees, and bushes along stream where it stays for 2 or 3 days. Also know as Sedge.6. Mating takes place either on ground or in vegetation along stream. Mating activity begins, adult caddis using bush or tree as a

landmark, or focal point to gather.7. Female flies off to deposit eggs.8. Methods of egg laying (ovipositioning): D. On bushes or trees where rain will wash eggs into stream, E. On the stream surface,

F. Above the stream surface, G. Swimming or crawling to the stream bottom.9. Unlike Mayflies, Caddis fly off to live another day for a varying length of time.

Caddisflies demonstrate a complete lifecycle, because they undergo metamorphosis

Caddisfly Case Types

1. A free living Hydropsychidae larva.

2. A free living Rhyacophilidae.

3. A free living caddis retreat attached to a stone.

4. Stone tube case of Psilotreta.

5. Stone case of Mystacides attached to twigs.

6. Apatania carrying it's portable stone tube case.

7. Tube or log cabin type case of Brachycentrus appalachia.

8. Tube or log cabin type case of Lepidostoma.

9. Stone case of Neophylax.

10. Tortoiseshell or saddle case of Glossosmatidae

Common Western Caddisfly SpeciesThere are over 1200 species of Caddisflies found in North America. Here are a few common species you’ll hear about or see on most Western Hatch Charts.

• Brachycentrus (Grannom - Mother’s Day Caddis)• Hydropsyche (Spotted Caddis)• Helicopsyche (Speckled Peters)• Glossosoma Montana (Little Black Short-Horned Sedge)• Oecetis (Longhorn Sedge)• Cheumatopsyche (Little Sister Sedge)• Lepidostoma (Little Plain Brown Sedge)• Arctopsyche Grandis (Great Gray Spotted Sedge)• Hesperophylax (Silver Stripped Sedge)• Rhyacophila (Green Sedge)• Microsema (Little Grannom)• Mystacides (Black Dancer)

Basic Caddis/Sedge Fly PatternsDRIES: Elk Hair Caddis, X-Caddis, Iris Caddis, Hemmingway Caddis, Mottled Caddis, Goddard Caddis, Royal

TrudeColors: Tan, Olive, Grey, Black, Brown

EMERGER/PUPA: Z-Wing Pupa, Beadhead (3 Dollar Dip) &Traditional Serendipity, Peeking Soft Hackle Caddis, Partridge Soft Hackle Caddis, Beadhead Hares Ear Caddis Pupa, LaFontaine & Traditional Sparkle PupaColors: Bright Green, Lime, Olive, Tan, Cream, Brown, Chartreuse, Peacock, Yellow-Brown,

Black, Red

LARVA: Chamois/Buckskin Caddis, Net Builder, larva Lace Caddis, Brassie, Zug Bug, Caddis LarvaColors: Bright Green, Lime, Olive, Tan, Cream, Brown, Chartreuse, Peacock, Yellow-Brown, Black

Stonefly Life Cycle1. Egg matures into a larva.2. Nymph lives on bottom growing in stages (instars*) until it matures, which could take up to 3 months to 3 years.3. As the nymph nears maturity it migrates to the edge of the stream.4. Nymph crawl out of the water, and up into the streamside vegetation, usually at night. In the vegetation the final instar is

completed as the stonefly sheds it’s husk becoming an adult. Adult stonefly life span varies from a day or 2 to a few weeks.5. Adult stoneflies mate either within the vegetation or on the ground.6. Females fly out over the stream to deposit eggs.7. Females drop their egg sack into the into the water either by dropping it from above or dipping their abdomen into the water

surface while flying above it, crawling across it or crawling down the bank and depositing under the water.8. Eggs drop to stream bottom.

Stoneflies demonstrate an incomplete lifecycle, because they don't undergo metamorphosis

Common Western Stonefly SpeciesThere are over 500 species of Stoneflies found in North America. Here are a few common species you’ll hear about or see on most Western Hatch Charts.

• Salmonfly – Pteronarcys Californica• Golden Stonefly• Little Yellow Stonefly (Yellow Sally)• Skwala

Skwala

Yellow SallyGolden Stone

Salmonfly

Salmonflies Mating

Basic Stonefly Fly Patterns

DRIES: Sofa Pillow, Stimulator, Yellow Sally, Madam X, Clarks Stonefly, Henry’s Fork Golden Stone, Henry’s Fork Salmonfly, Orange/Yellow Chernobyl Ant, Yellow Elk Hair CaddisColors: Yellow, Orange, Gold, Amber

EMERGERS: Bitch Creek, Montana Nymph, Kaufman’s Stone, Black Rubber Leg Stonefly, Biot Epoxy Golden Stone, Copper John, Hare’s Ear, Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph, Brooks Stonefly Nymph, Halfback, Birds Stone, Girdle BigColors: Black, Brown, Peacock, Gold, Yellow, Orange,

Other Trout Food

TERRESTRIALS

AQUATICHopper

Ants

Midge Larva

Midge Adult

Eggs

Beetle

Western Cicada

Mormon Cricket

Worm

Scud

Leech

Minnow

SculpinC

rane

fly

Larv

a

Dragonfly Dam

selfl

y

TerrestrialsTerrestrial insects are not aquatic but tend to spend a lot of time in the meadows and banks surrounding bodies of water. Due to wind, hanging on a tree a little to close to the water, or a clumsy jump, many of them end up trout food. This is a list of most common Terrestrials.

Grasshoppers – Dave’s Hopper, Joe’s Hopper, Parachute Hopper, Whit’s Hopper, Madame X, Letort Hopper, Yellow Stimulator, Yellow & Black/Tan Chernobyl Ant

Ants – Black Chernobyl Ant, Sailor Ant, Black Fur Ant, Black Foam Ant, Parachute Black Foam Ant, Hi Vis Black Ant, Black CDC Flying AntColors: Black, Brown, Cinnamon, Red

Beetles/ Crickets/Cicadas – Black Hi Vis Foam Beetle, Black/Tan/Brown Chernobyl Ant, Letort Black Cricket, Dave’s Cricket, Black Foam Cricket, Mormon Cricket, Elvira Cicada, Cards Cicada, Hi Vis Black PMX Cicada, Black Madame X, Black/Tan Fat Albert, Mutant Ninja Cicada, Black Stimulator

Other Aquatic Trout FoodOther food sources are just as important to the trout diet and take many forms in the lakes and streams.

Aquatic Worms - San Juan Worm Color: Red, Brown, Wine, Pink, Amber

Scuds (freshwater crustacean or shrimp) – Flashback and Shellback Scuds Color: Olive, Amber, Gray, Orange, Tan, Pink, Rainbow, Pearl

Sow Bugs – Ray Charles and Shellback Sow Bugs, Sunset Sow Bug Color: Gray, Brown, Tan, Olive

Leeches – Woolly Bugger, Egg Sucking Leech, Bunny Leech, J. J. Special, Mohair Leech Color: Black, Brown, White, Olive, Yellow

Minnows and Sculpins - Woolly Bugger, Woolhead Sculpin, Marabou Muddler Minnow, Zonker, Clouser Minnow, Bow River Muddler, Matuka Sculpin, Mickey Finn Color: Black, Brown, Olive, White, Yellow, Natural, Purple

Other Aquatic Trout FoodEggs – Glo-Bugs

Color: Pink, Orange, Salmon, Red, Yellow/Gold

Cranefly – Giant Cranefly larva, Western Cranefly LarvaColor: Olive, Off-white, Tan, Blue-Gray, Dingy Orange

Dragonfly and Damselfly - Seal Fur Damsel, Bachmann’s Damsel , Marabou Damsel, Whitlock Damsel, Dragon Nymph, Woolly Burger, Carey’s Special Dragonfly, Barr’s DamselColor: Green, Olive, Olive-Brown, Gray-Brown, Purple-Brown, Tan, Peacock,

Midges – Brassie, Disco Midge, Pheasant Tail Nymph, RS-2, WD-40, Zebra Midge, Rainbow Warrior, Serendipity, Black Beauty, Griffith’s Gnat, Zelon Midge, Renegade, CDC MidgeColor: Copper, Red, Cream, Brown, Tan, Gray, Black, Green, Olive, Peacock, Rainbow, Pearl

Other Aquatic Trout Food

Attractors – Humpy's, Renegade, Royal Coachman, Royal Trude, Royal Wulff, Tarantula, Royal Madame XColor: Red, Green, Yellow, Black, Peacock,

Other – Woolly Worm, Spruce Moth

CreditsA little help from my friends

• Troutnut.com (source for in-depth Entomology)• Riverbum.com (source for Basic Flies)• Jerryhadden.com (source for insect Life-Cycles)• Charliesflyboxinc.com • Blueribbonflies.com• Westfly.com (source for Western Fly imitations & Entomology)• Orvis.com • Utahonthefly.com • Greenriverflyfishers.com • Flamminggorgeresort.com• Stoneflysociety.org• Henrysforkangler.com • Naturals: A Guide to Food Organisms of the Trout – Gary Borger• Western Fly-Fishing Strategies – Craig Mathews• Fly Fishing the Henry’s Fork – Mike Lawson and Gary LaFontaine• Fishing Yellowstone Waters – Charles E. Brooks• Western Hatches – Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes• Tying Flies with Jack Dennis and Friends – Jack Dennis